"The more fundraisers there are, the more likely they are to lose members," Johnson explains. "Fundraising events have a big impact on those who left, which is the really sad thing because fire companies need to raise money like any organization, but clearly it leads to burnout."

Johnson says in 2001, an average of roughly 18 firefighters would respond to calls.

The number has slipped to about 17 this year.

He adds fire companies losing members are generally smaller in size -- serving populations of less than 5,000 people.